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yk^'^f-^jL^^ix,^ 


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—  .v.-^^->.v- 


General  Assembly.] 


Ordered  to  be  Printed. 


Symo  &  Hall,  Printers  to  th(9  Convention 


CONSTITUTION  OF- THE  TRO VISIONAL  GOVER^J- 
MENT  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF 
AMERICA. 

We,  tho  Deputies  of  the  Sovereign  ami  Tndopoudent  States 
of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Florula,  Alabama,  Mississipp' " 
and  of  Louisiana,  invoking  the  favor  of  Ahnightj  God,  do  here- 
by, in  behalf  of  these  States,  ordain  and  establish  this  Constitu- 
tion fon  the  Provisional  Government  of  the  same ;  to  continue 
one  year  from  the  inauguration  of  the  President,  or  until  a  per- 
manent Constitution  or  Confederation  between  the  said  States 
shall  be  put  in  operation,  whichsoever  shall  first  occur. 

ARTICLE  1. 

SECTION   1. 

All*  legislative  powers  herein  delegated  shall  be  vested  in  this 
Congress  now  assembled,  until  otherwise  ordair  -d. 

.SECTION  2. 

When  vacancies  liappen  in  the  represeuiation  from  any  State, 
the  same  shall  bf>  fiPed  in  such  manner  as  theprovoi  authorities 

of    fl.,.    Stuff      hMll  diVv'  -f  •      -' 


].  The  Congress  shall  bi^io    ju'ljl^ul'  the  elections,  returns 


'X 


an(Laaalific.1tions  of^^  inynin^^:  _aiij^^nbcr  of  Deputies  from 
gi^^l^wt^l^iftH^AKM,  H^;4r)!^ent^iLlilI  constitute  a  quo- 
rum to  do 'Visiness  ;  but  a  smaller  number  may  ailjourn  from 
day  to  day,  and  may  be  authorized  to  compel  the  attendance  of 
absent  members ;  upon  all  ^luestions  before  the  Congress,  each 
State  shall  be  entitled  to  one  vote,  and  shall  be  represented  by 
any  one  or  more  of  its  Deputies  who  may  be  present. 

2.  The  Congress  may  detcrmiifc  the  rules  of  its  proceedings, 
punish  its  members  for  disorderly  behavior^  and  with  the  con- 
currence of  two-thirds,  expel  a  member. 

3.  The  Congress  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  and 
from  time  to  time  publish  the  same,  excepting  sjich  parts  as  may 
in  their  judgment  require  secrecy  ;  and  tlie  yeas  arfd  nays  of 
the  members  on  any«questk>n,  shall,  at  the  dcive  of  one-fifth  of 
those  present,  or  at  the  instance  of  any  one.  '^t«',te,  be  entered 
on  the  journal. 

SECTION  4. 

The  members  of  Congress  shall  receive  a  compensation  for 
the  services,  to  be  ascertained  bylaw,  and  paid  out  of  the  Treas- 
ury of  the  Confederacy.  They  shall  in  all  cases,  except  trea- 
son, felony  and  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest 
during  their  attendance  at  the  sessicyi  of  Congress,  and  in  going 
to  and  returning  from  the  same  ;  and  for  any  speech  or  debate, 
they  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other  place 

SECTION   5. 

1.  Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  Congress,  shall,  be- 
fore it  become  d  law,  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the  Con- 
federacy;  if  lie  approve,  he  shall  sign  it ;  but  if  not,  he  shall 
return  it  with  his  objections,  to  the  Congress,  who  shall  enter 
the  Ejections  at  large  on  their  journal,  and  proceed  to  re-con- 
Bider  it.  ^If,  after  such  reconsideration,  two-thirds  of  tlu-  Con 


^ 


gress  bhall  agree  to  pass  tlio  bill,  it  .shall  Ijccome  a  ia^^.  lint  in 
all  such  cases,  the  vote  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays  ; 
and  the  names  of  the  persons  voting  for  and  against  the  bill 
shall  be  entered  on  the  journal.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be  re- 
turned by  the  President  within  ten  dafs  (Sundays  excepted) 
after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a 
law,  in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  Congress, 
by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its  return,  in  which  case  it  shall 
not  be  a  law.  The  President  may  veto  any  appropriation  or 
appropriations  and  approve  any  other  appropriation  or  appro- 
priations in  the  same  bill. 

2.  Every  order,  resolution  or  vote,  intended  to  have  the  force 
and  effect  of  a  law,  shall  be  presented  to  the  president,  and  be- 
fore the  same  sliall  take  effect,  shall  be  approved  by  him,  or  be- 
ing disapproved  by  him,  shall  be  repassed  by  two-thirds  of  the 
Congress,  a^ccording  to  the  rules  and  limitations  prescribed  in 
the  case  of  a  bill.  r, 

3.  Until  the  inauguration  Df  the  President,  all  bills,  orders, 
resolutions  and  votes  adopted  by  the  Congress,  shall  be  of  full 
force  without  approval  by  him. 

SECTION   6. 

1.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  lay  and  collect  taxes, 
dutic?,  imposts  and  excises  for  the  revenue  necessary  to  pay  the 
debts  and  carry  on  the  Government  of  the  Confederacy :  and 
all  duties,  imposts  and  excises  shall  be  uniform  throughout  the 
States  of  the  Confederacy.  And  this  Congress  shall  also  ex- 
ercise executive  powers  until  the  President  is  inaugurated  : 

2.  To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  Confederacy  : 

3.  To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  amon<^ 
the  several  States,  and  with  the  Indian  tribes  : 

4.  To  establish  a  unjform  rule  of  naturalization,  and  uniform 
laws  on  the  suT)ject  of  bankruptcies  throughout  the  Confed- 
eracy : 

5.  To  coin  Lioney,  regulate  the  value  thereof  and  of  foreign 
coin,  and  fixihc  standard  of  weights  and  measures: 


•4 

0.  To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  secur- 
ties  and  current  coin  of  the  Confederacy  : 

7.  To  establish  post  offices  and  post  roads : 

8.  To  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  useful  arts,  by  se- 
curing for  limited  times,  to  authors  and  inventors,  the  exclusive 
right  to  their  respective  Avritings  and  discoveries : 

9.  To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  supreme  court : 

10.  To  define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies  committed  on 
the  high  seas,  and  offences  against  the  law  of  nations  : 

11.  To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marq,ue  and  reprisal, 
and  inake  rules  concerning  captures  on  land  and  water : 

12.  To  raise  and  support  armies  ;  but  no  appropriation  of 
money  to  that  use  shall  be  for  a  longer  term  than  two  years : 

13.  To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy: 

14.  To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regulation  of  the 
land  and  naval  forces : 

15.  To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the 
laws  of  the  Confederacy,  suppress  insurrections,  and  [repel  in- 
vasions : 

16.  To  provide  for  organizing,  arming  and  disciplining  the 
militia,  and  for  governing  such  part  of  them  as  may  be  employed 
in  the  service  of  the  Confederacy,  reserving  to  the  States  re- 
spectively the  appointment  of  the  officers,  and  the  authority  of 
training  the  militia  according  to  the  discipline  prescribed  by 
Congress:  and 

17.  To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  netiessary  and  proper 
for  carrying  into  execution  the  foregomg  powers  and  all  other 
powers  expressly  delegated  by  the  Constitution  to  this  Provis- 
ional Government. 

SECTION   7. 

1.  The  importation  of  African  negix)es  foom  any  foreign 
country  other  than  the  slaveholding  States  of  the  United  States, 
is  hereby  forbidden ;  and  Congress  is  required  to  pass  such  laws 
as  shall  effectually  prevent  the  same.  ' 


2.  The  Congress  shall  also  have  poA\er  to  [irohibit  the  intro- 
duction  of  slaves  from  any  State  not  a  member  of  this  Con- 
federacy. 

3.  The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  shall  not  be 
suspended  unless,  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion,  the 
public  safety  may  require  it. 

4.  No  bill  of  Attainder,  or  ex  post  facto  law  shall  be  passed. 

5.  No  preference  shall  be  given,  by  any  regulation  jof.  com- 
merce or  revenue,  to  the  ports  of  one  State  over  those  of  an- 
other ;  nor  shall  vessels  bound  to  or  from  one  State  be  obliged 
to  enter,  clear,  or  pa}^  duties,  in  another. 

6.  No  money  s'lall  \fe  drawn  from  the  Treasury,  but  in  con- 
sequence of  appropriations  made  by  law ;  and  a  regular  state- 
ment and  account  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  all  public 
money  shall  be  published  from  time  to  time. 

7.  Congress  shall  appropriate  no  money  from  the  treasury, 
unless  it  be  asked  for  by  the  President  or  some  one  of  the  heads 
of  Departments,  except  for  the  purpose  of  paying  its  own 
expenses  and  contingencies. 

8.  No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  Confederacy ; 
and  no  person  holding  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  under  it,  shall, 
without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  accept  of  any  present, 
emolument,  ofSce  or  title  of  any  kind  whatever  from  any  king, 
prince  or  foreign  State. 

9.  Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establishment 
of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof;  or  abridg- 
ing the  freedom  of  speech,  or  of  the  press ;  or  the  right  of  the 
people  peaceably  to  assemble  and  petition  the  government  for  a 
redress  of  sucb  grievances  as  the  delegated  powers  of  this  Gov- 
ernment may  warrant  it  to  consider  and  redress. 

10.  A  well  regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the  security 
of  a  free  State,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms 
shall  not  be  infringed. 

11.  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any 
house  without  the  consent  of  the  owner  ;  nor  in  time  of  war, 
but  in  a  manner  prescribed  by  law. 


6 

12.  The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  tiieir  persons, 
houses,  papers,  and  effects  against  unreasonable  searches  and 
seizures,  shall  not  be  violated ;  and  no  warrants  shall  issue  but 
upon  probable  cause,  supported  by  oath  or  affirmation,  and  par- 
ticularly describing  the  place  to  be  searched,  and  the  persons  or 
things  to  be  seized. 

13.  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital  or  other- 
wise infamous  crime,  unless  on  a  presentment  or  indictment  of 
a  grand  jury,  except  in  cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces, 
or  in  the  militia,  when  in  actual  service,  in  time  of  war  or  public 
danger ;  nor  shall  any  person  be  subject  for  the  same  offence 
to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  life  or  limb ;  nor  shall  be  compelled, 
in  any  criminal  case,  to  be  a  witness  against  himself;  nor  be 
deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property  without  due  process  of 
law ;  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public  use  without 
just  compensation. 

14.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  enjoy  the 
right  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the 
State  and  district  wherein  the  crime  shall  have  been  committed, 
which  district  shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law, 
and  to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accusation; 
to  be  confronted  with  tho  witnesses  against  him  ;  to  have  com- 
pulsory process  for  obtaining  witnesses  in  his  favor;  and  to 
have  the  assistance  of  counsel  for  his  defence. 

15.  In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  controversy 
shall  exceed  twenty  dollars,  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be 
preserved ;  and  no  fact  tried  by  a  jury  shall  be  otherwise 
re-examined  in  any  court  of  the  Confederacy,  than  according  to 
the  rules  of  the  common  law. 

16.  Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive  fines 
imposed,  nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted. 

17.  The  enumeration,  in  the  Constitution,  of  certain  rights, 
shall  not  be  construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by 
the  people. 

18.  The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  Confederacy  by  the, 
Constitution,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  States,  are  reserved  to 
the  States  respectively,  or  to  the  people. 


19.  The  judicial  power  of  the  Confederacy  shall  not  be  con- 
Etrued  to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity,  commenced  or 
prosecuted  against  one  of  the  States  of  the  Confederacy,  by 
citizens  of  another  State,  or  by  citizens  or  subjects  of  any  for- 
eign State. 

Section  8. 

1.  No  State  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or  confede- 
ration ;  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal ;  coin  money  ;  emit 
bills  of  credit ;  make  anything  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender 
in  payment  of  debts  ;  pass  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex.  post  facto 
law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts ;  or  grant  any 
title  of  nobility. 

2.  No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  lay 
any  imposts  or  duties  on  imports  or  exports,  except  Avhat  may 
be  absolutely  necessary  for  executing  its  inspection  laws ;  and 
the  nett  produce  of  all  duties  and  imposts,  laid  by  any  State  on 
imports  or  exports,  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  treasury  of  the 
Confederacy,  and  all  such  laws  shall  be  subject  to  the  revision 
and  control  of  the  Congress.  No  State,  shall,  without  the  con- 
sent of  Congress,  lay  any  duty  of  tonnage,  enter  into  any  agree- 
ment or  compact  with  another  State,  or  with  a  foreign  power,  or 
engage  in  war,  unless  actually  invaded,  or  in  such  imminent 
danger  as  will  not  admit  of  delay. 

ARTICLE  II. 

Section  1. 

1.  The  executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  of  the 
Confederate  States  of  America.  He,  together  with  the  Vice 
President,  shall  hold  his  office  for  one  year,  or  until  this  Pro- 
visional Government  shall  be  superceded  by  permanent  govern- 
ment, whichsoever  shall  first  occur. 


8 


^.  The  President  and  Vice  President  shall  be  elected  by  bal- 
lot by  the  States  represented  in  this  Congress,  each  State  cast- 
ing one  vote,  and  ;i  majority  of  the  whole  being  requisite  to 
elect. 

•3.  No  person,  except  a  natural  born  citizen,  or  a  citizen  of 
one  of  the  States  of  this  Confederacy  at  the  lime  of  the  adop- 
tion of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  Presi- 
dent ;  neither  shall  any  person  be  eligible  to  that  office  who 
shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  thirty-five  years  and  been 
fourteen  years  a  resident  of  one  of  the  States  of  this  Confed- 
eracy. 

4.  In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from  office,  or  of 
his  death,  resignation,  or  inability  to  discharge  the  powers  and 
duties  of  the  said  office,  (which  inability  shall  be  determined 
by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  Congress,)  the  same  shall  devolve 
on  the  Vice  President ;  and  the  Congress  may,  by  law,  provide  for 
the  case  of  removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inability  both  of  the 
President  and  Vice  President,  declaring  what  officer  shall  then  act 
as  the  President,  and  such  officer  shall  act  accordingly  until 
the  disability  be  removed  or  a  President  shall  be  elected. 

5.  The  President  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  his  services 
during  the  .period  of  the  Provisional  Government,  a  compensa- 
tion, at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  per  annum ;  and 
he  shall  not  receive  during  that  period  any  other  emolument 
from  the    Confederacy,  or  any  of  the  States,  thereof. 

6.  Before  he  enter  on  the  execution  of  his  office,  he  shall 
take  the  following  oath  or  affirmation :  , 

"I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute 
the  office  of  President  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America, 
and  will  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  preserve,  protect,  and  defend 
the   Constitution  thereof." 

Section  2. 

1.  The  President  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  army 
and  navy  of  the  Confederacy,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  several 
States,  Avhen  called  into  the  actual  service  of  the  Confederacy ; 


he  may  require  the  opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal 
officer  in  each  of  the  Executive  Departments,  upon  any  subject 
relating  to  the  duties  of  tlieir  respective  ofKces ;  and  lie  shall  liave 
power  to  grant  reprieves  and  pardons  for  offences  against:  the 
Confederacy,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment. 

2.  He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  adyice  and  consent 
of  the  Congress,  to  make  treaties,  provided  two-thirds  of  the  Con- 
gress concur;  and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  Congress  shall  appoint  ambassadors,  other 
public  ministers  and  consuls,  judges  of  the  court,  and  all  other 
officers  of  the  Confederncy  whose  appointments  are  not  herein 
otherwise  provided  for,  and  which  shall  be  established  by  law. 
But  the  Congress  may,  by  law,  vest  the  appointment  of  such 
inferior  officers,  as  they  think  proper  in  the  President  alone,  in 
the  courts  of  law  or  in  the  heads  of  departments. 

3.  The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  that 
may  happen  during  the  recess  of  the  Congress,  by  granting  com- 
missions which  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  their  next  session. 

Section  8. 

1.  He  shall,  L'om  time  to  time,  give  to  the  Congress  informa- 
tion of  the  state  of  the  Confederacy  and  recommend  to  their 
consideration  such  measures  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  ex- 
pedient ;  he  may,  on  extraordinary  occasions,  convene  the  Con- 
gress at  such  time  as  he  shall  think  proper ;  he  shall  receive 
ambassadors  and  other  public  ministers  ;  he  shall  take  care  that 
the  laws  be  faithfully  executed;  and  shall  commission  all  the 
officers  of  the  Confederacy. 

2.  The  President,  Vice  President,  and  all  civil  officers  of  the 
Confederacy  shall  be  removed  from  office  on  conviction  by  the 
Congress,  of  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes  and  mis- 
demeanors :  a  vote  of  two-thirds  shall  be  necessary  for  such 
conviction. 


10 

ARTICLE  III. 
Section  1. 

1.  The  judicial  power  of  the  Confederacy  shall  be  vested 
in  one  Supreme  Court,  and  in  such  Inferior  Courts  as  are  herein 
directed  or  as  the  Congress  may  from  time  to  time  ordain  and 
establish. 

2.  Each  State  shall  constitute  a  District  in  which  there  shall 
be  a  court  called  a  Districc  Court,  which,  until  otherwise  pro- 
vided by  the  Congress,  shall  have  the  jurisdiction  vested  by  the 
laws  of  the  United  States,  as  far  as  applicable,  in  both  the  Dis- 
trict and  Circuit  Courts  of  the  United  States,  for  that  State  ; 
the  Judge  whereof  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President,  by  and 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Congress,  and  shall,  until 
otherwise  provided  by  the  Congress,  exercise  the  power  and  au- 
thority vested  by.the  laws^f  the  United  States  in  the  Judges 
of  the  District  and  Circuit  Courts  of  the  United  States,  for  that 
State,  and  shall  appoint  the  times  and  places  at  which  the  courts 
shall  be  held.  Appeals  may  be  taken  directly  from  the  District 
Courts  to  the  Supreme  Court,  under  similar  regulations  to  those 
which  are  provided  in  cases  of  appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States,  or  under  such  other  regulations  as  may  be 
provided  by  the  Congress.  The  commissions  of  all  the  judges 
shall  expire  with  this  Provisional  Government. 

'S.  The  Supreme  Court  shall  be  constituted  of  all  the  District 
Judges,  a  majority  of  whom  shall  be  a  quorum,  and  shall  sit  at 
such  times  and  places  as  the  Congress  shall  appoint. 

4.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  make  laws  for  the  trans- 
fer of  any  causes  which  were  pending  in  the  courts  of  the 
United  States,  to  the  courts  of  the  Confederacy,  and  for  the 
execution  of  the  orders,  decrees  and  judgments  heretofore  ren- 
dered by  the  said  courts  of  the  United  States;  and  also  all 
laws  which  may  be  re([uisite  to  protect  the  parties  to  all  such 
suits,  orders,  judgments,  or  decrees,  their  heirs,  personal  rep- 
resentatives or  assignees. 


11 

Section  2. 

1.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all  cases  of  law  and 
e(iuity,  arising  under  this  Constitution,  tlic  laws  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  Ihis  Confederacy,  and  treaties  made  or  which 
shall  be  made  under  its  authority;  to  all  cases  aftecting  ambas- 
sadors, other  public  ministers  and  consuls;  to  all  cases  of  admi- 
ralty and  maritime  jurisdiction;  to  controversies  to  which  the 
Confederacy  shall  be  a  party;  to  controversies  between  two  or 
more  States ;  between  citizens  of  different  States ;  between 
citizens  of  the  same  State  claiming  lands  under  grants  of  dif- 
ferent States. 

2.  In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers, 
and  consuls,  and  those  in  which  a  State  shall  be  a  party,  the 
Supreme  Court  shall  have  original  jurisdiction.  In  all  the  other 
cases  before  mentioned,  the  Supreme  Court  shall  have  appellate 
jurisdiction,  both  as  to  law  and  fact,  with  such  exceptions,  and 
under  such  regulations  as  the  Congress  shall  make. 

3.  The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment, 
shall  be  by  jury,  and  such  trial  shall  be  held  in  the  State  where 
the  said  crimes  shall  have  been  committed ;  but  when  not  com- 
mitted within  any  State,  the  trial  shall  be  at  such  place  or  places 
as  the  Congress  may  by  law  have  directed. 

Section  3. 

1.  Treason  a<^ainst  this  Confederacy  shall  consist  only  in 
levying  war  against  it,  or  in  adhering  to  its  enemies,  giving 
them  aid  and  comfort.  ISIo  person  shall  be  convicted  of  treason 
unless  on  the  testimony  of  two  witnesses  to  the  same  overt 
act  or  on  confession  in  open  court. 

2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the  punishment 
of  treason,  but  no  attainder  of  treason  shall  work  corruption  of 
blood,  or  forfeiture,  except  during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted. 


12 

ARTICLE  IV. 
Section  1. 

1.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State  to  the 
public  acts,  records  and  judicial  proceedings  of  every  other 
State.  And  the  Congress  may,  by  general  laws,  prescribe  the 
manner  in  which  such  acts,  records  and  proceedings  shall  be 
proved,  and  the  effect  of  such  proof. 

Section  2. 

1.  The  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  privi- 
leges and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  States. 

2.  A  person  charged  in  any  State  with  treason,  felony,  or 
other  crime,  who  shall  flee  from  justice,  and  be  found  in  another 
State,  shall,  on  demand  of  the  Executive  authority  of  the  State 
from  which  he  fled,  be  delivered  up,  to  be  removed  to  the  State 
having  jurisdiction  of  the  ^rime. 

3.  A  slaVe  in  one  State,  escaping  to  another,  shall  be  deliv- 
ered up  on  claim  of  the  party  to  whom  said  slave  may  belong 
by  tho  executive  authority  of  the  State  in  which  such  slave  shall 
be  found,  and  in  case  of  any  abduction  or  forcible  rescue,  full 
compensation,  including  the  value  of  the  slave  and  all  costs  and 
expenses,  shall  be  made  to  the  party,  by  the  State  in  which  such 
abduction  or  rescue  shall  take  place. 

Section  '6. 

1.  The  Confederacy  shall  guaranty  to  every  State  in  this 
union,  a  republican  form  of  government,  and  shall  protect  each  of 
them  against  invasion ;  and  on  application  of  the  Legislature 
or  of  the  Executive  (when  the  Legislature  cannot  be  convened) 
against  domestic  violence. 

ARTICLE  Y. 

1.  The  Congress,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds,  may,  at  any  time, 
alter  or  amend  this  Constitution. 


13 
ARTICLE  VI. 

1.  This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  Confederacy  which 
shall  be  made  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  all  treaties  made,  or 
which  shall  be  made,  under  the  authority  of  the  Confederacy 
shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the  land ;  and  the  judges  in  every 
State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  anything  in  the  Constitution  or 
laws  of  any  State  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

2.  The  Government  hereby  instituted  shall  take  immediate 
steps  for  the  settlement  of  all  matters  between  the  States  form- 
in"-  it,  and  their  other  late  confederates  of  the  United  States  in 
relation  to  the  public  property  and  public  debt  at  the  time  of 
their  withdrawal  from  them  ;  these  States  hereby  declaring  it  to 
be  their  wish  and  earnest  desire  to  adjust  everything  pertaining 
to  the  common  property,  common  liability,  and  common  obliga- 
tions of  that  union,  upon  the  principles  of  right,  justice,  equity 
and  good  faith.  /  • 

3.  Until  otherwise  provided  by  the  Congress,  the  city  of 
Montgomery,  in  the  State  of  Alabama,  shall  be  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment. 

4.  The  members  of  the  Congress  and  all  executive  and  judi- 
cial officers  of  the  Confederacy  shall  be  bound  by  oath  or  affir- 
mation to  support  this  Constitution  ;  but  no  religious  test  shall 
be  required  as  a  qualification  to  any  office  or  public  trust  under 
this  Confederacy. 

5.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  admit  other  States. 


